Analyte Monitoring Device

The present disclosure relates to an analyte monitoring device, and more particularly, to a device that is inserted into the body and used for monitoring an analyte.

Contents described in this section merely provide background information for the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art.

As the taste for processed foods has increased, people are easily exposed to monosaccharides. Due to this environment, diabetes is also rapidly increasing. When blood glucose levels drop rapidly or rise rapidly, diabetic patients can experience shock, and in rare cases, death. Thus, diabetic patients need to continuously monitor their blood glucose levels.

In the case of blood glucose measurement devices according to the related art, a lancet is used to cut the tip of the finger, and the blood of the diabetic patient that comes out through a cut gap is inserted into a blood glucose analysis device to calculate blood glucose level.

This type of blood glucose measurement device causes pain and fear to a user. In addition, it is realistically difficult to cut one's finger every hour to cause bleeding.

In order to solve this problem, a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device has been developed. When a sensor having microscopic thickness and an electronic apparatus for analyzing an analyte measured in the sensor (hereinafter, “blood glucose”) are attached to the skin of the diabetic patient, blood glucose levels are continuously measured for a period of one week to ten days.

The continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device can measure blood glucose levels continuously using the sensor that is inserted into the skin of the body and provided in the device. In general, efforts have been made to miniaturize a CGM device so that the CGM device can be inserted into the skin of the body. However, in CGM devices according to the related art, it is difficult to control the strength and signal characteristics of an antenna during a product miniaturization process.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2566020 (Aug. 10, 2023)

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2593526 (Oct. 19, 2023)

The present disclosure provides an analyte monitoring device that secures the strength of an antenna and signal characteristics through an antenna unit formed separately from a printed circuit board (PCB) unit and finds out the user's blood glucose information.

The problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an analyte monitoring device including: an upper housing; a sensor unit inserted into a body; a printed circuit board (PCB) unit which is spaced apart from an upper housing and on which the sensor unit is mounted; an antenna unit formed on the upper housing; and a conduction unit disposed between the PCB unit and the antenna unit and allowing the PCB unit and the antenna unit to be electrically connected to each other.

A first opening may be formed in the upper housing, and a fixing unit coupled to the sensor unit may be fixed in the first opening, and the fixing unit may include a holder covering part of the first opening and coupled to the sensor unit, and a packing holder covering the other part of the first opening and coupled to the holder.

The packing holder may include a packing holder sensor fixing portion formed with a width corresponding to a width of the sensor unit, and the holder may include a holder sensor fixing portion formed with a width corresponding to the width of the sensor unit.

The packing holder may further include a packing holder protrusion formed at one end of the packing holder in a protrusion structure, and the holder may further include a holder insertion portion in a structure corresponding to the packing holder protrusion.

The packing holder may be manufactured of a rubber material.

Predetermined patterns may be formed on the antenna unit using a laser direct structuring (LDS) method.

The sensor unit may include: a sensor body portion coupled to the PCB unit; and a sensor insertion portion vertically extending from the sensor body portion and inserted into the body.

The conduction unit may include: an antenna contact portion in contact with the antenna unit; a PCB contact portion disposed parallel to the antenna contact portion and in contact with the PCB unit; and a conduction connection portion connecting the antenna contact portion to the PCB contact portion.

The analyte monitoring device may further include a lower housing coupled to the upper housing, aligned with the first opening and including at least one second opening through which part of the sensor unit passes.

In an analyte monitoring device according to the present disclosure, a sensor unit is inserted into the body and finds out the user's blood glucose information continuously so that the user's body information can be found out in real time.

In the analyte monitoring device according to the present disclosure, the strength of an antenna and signal characteristics can be secured by an antenna unit formed separately from a printed circuit board (PCB) unit, and blood glucose information measured by the sensor unit can be transmitted/received to/from an external device.

In the analyte monitoring device according to the present disclosure, even when a sensor is inserted into the body, a fixing unit can fix the sensor so that the sensor cannot move.

In the analyte monitoring device according to the present disclosure, when a packing holder is formed of a rubber material and the analyte monitoring device is attached to the body using an applicator, a friction force is increased to prevent the analyte monitoring device from being rotated, and a hole formed by an applicator needle can be automatically restored through the rubber material.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail through exemplary drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same components have the same reference numerals as much as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. Also, in describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description will be omitted.

In describing the components of the embodiment according to the present disclosure, symbols, such as first, second, i), ii), a), and b), and the like may be used. These symbols are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the nature, sequence, or order of the component is not limited by the symbols. In the specification, when a part is said to ‘include’ or ‘comprise’ a certain element, this means that it does not exclude other elements, but may further include other elements, unless explicitly stated to the contrary.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. is a perspective view of an analyte monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,is a bottom perspective view of the analyte monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andis an exploded perspective view of the analyte monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

1 3 FIGS.to 100 200 300 400 500 Referring to, the analyte monitoring device according to the present embodiment includes an upper housing, a sensor unit, a printed circuit board (PCB) unit, an antenna unit, and a conduction unit.

100 100 200 100 100 The upper housingmay protect components inside the analyte monitoring device. The upper housingis pressed by an applicator, i.e., a tool on which the analyte monitoring device is mounted to insert the sensor unitof the analyte monitoring device into a user's body, and the analyte monitoring device is attached to the body by pressurization. The upper housingis preferably formed of a synthetic resin, for example, plastic, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the upper housingmay be manufactured of various materials.

200 200 200 300 300 400 The sensor unitmeasures the analyte in the body. The analyte measured by the sensor unitmay include a biological material including glucose, etc. The sensor unitmay be mounted on the PCB unitto be described later and may measure the analyte, and the measured information may be transmitted/received to/from an external device through the PCB unitto be described later and the antenna unitto be described later.

3 FIG. 200 210 220 Referring to, the sensor unitmay include a sensor body portionand a sensor insertion portion.

210 200 300 210 220 300 210 210 3 FIG. The sensor body portionis a portion of the sensor unitcoupled to the PCB unit. The sensor body portionmay transmit a sensor detection signal measured by the sensor insertion portionto be described later to the PCB unit. The sensor body portionis shown in a hexahedron shape in, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the sensor body portionmay be manufactured in various shapes.

220 200 220 300 210 220 210 220 210 200 220 200 220 210 220 210 220 The sensor insertion portionis a portion of the sensor unitthat is inserted into the body and measures information about the analyte inside the body. The sensor insertion portionmay be inserted into the body and may measure information about the analyte inside the body, and the measured information may be transmitted to the PCB unitthrough the sensor body portion. The sensor insertion portionmay extend from the sensor body portionvertically downward and may be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the skin. When the sensor insertion portiondoes not extend perpendicular to the sensor body portion, as the sensor unit(specifically, a connection portion of the sensor body portion and the sensor insertion portion) is bent while the sensor insertion portionis pressed by the applicator, there is a risk that a fine electrode formed on the sensor unitmay be broken. Since the sensor insertion portionof the present disclosure extends vertically from the sensor body portion, the connection portion of the sensor insertion portionand the sensor body portionis not bent even during the pressing process of the applicator, and thus, the risk of breakage of the sensor provided in the sensor insertion portioncan be prevented.

300 100 300 200 200 300 200 300 300 300 300 3 FIG. The PCB unitis spaced apart from the upper housingand performs electrical connection between components mounted on the PCB unitand the sensor unit. The sensor unitmay be mounted on the PCB unit. The information about the analyte (which may have the shape of electrical signals) measured by the sensor unitmay be transmitted to the PCB unit, and the PCB unitmay process electrical signals transmitted using a certain method. In, the PCB unitis shown in a circular shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the PCB unitmay be formed in various shapes.

310 300 700 310 300 310 A PCB padmay be provided between a lower end of the PCB unitand the lower housingto be described later. The PCB padcan prevent the PCB unitfrom being broken by shock. The PCB padmay be manufactured of various materials that may alleviate shock, such as rubber, etc.

4 FIG. is a perspective view of patterns of an antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

3 4 FIGS.and 400 100 200 300 500 300 400 400 300 Referring to, the antenna unitis formed at an inner surface of the upper housingand transmits/receives processed electrical signals (i.e., blood glucose information) to/from the external device. The electrical signals that correspond to the information about the analyte measured by the sensor unitare transmitted to the PCB unit, and the conduction unitto be described later allows the PCB unitand the antenna unitto be electrically connected to each other. The analyte information may be transmitted/received to/from the external device through the antenna unitelectrically connected to the PCB unit. As a method of transmitting/receiving the analyte information to the external device, the information is transmitted/received using mmWave or Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band broadband electromagnetic waves, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various transmission/receiving methods may be used.

400 400 300 100 400 100 100 400 400 4 FIG. Predetermined patterns may be formed on the antenna unitusing a laser direct structuring (LDS) method. The LDS method is a method by which patterns are selectively processed on a thermoplastic resin using laser and then electrical characteristics and reliability are secured through a plating process. Predetermined patterns may be formed on the antenna unitat part of a surface of the PCB unitof the upper housingusing the LDS method. In general, when the antenna is mounted integrally on the PCB while a continuous glucose measurement device is miniaturized, it is difficult to adjust the strength of the antenna and signal characteristics. According to the present disclosure, the antenna unitis separately formed on the upper housing, and predetermined patterns are processed on the upper housingusing the LDS method so that an appropriate strength of the antenna and signal characteristics can be secured. The patterns of the antenna unitare formed in a ‘F’-shape and a ‘’-shape in, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the antenna unitmay be formed in various patterns.

5 FIG. 6 FIG. 7 FIG. is a perspective view illustrating the inside of the analyte monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,is an internal cross-sectional view of the analyte monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andis an enlarged view illustrating a state in which a conductive unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is in contact with the antenna unit and a printed circuit board (PCB) unit.

5 7 FIGS.to 500 300 400 300 400 500 400 100 300 500 400 300 300 400 500 Referring to, the conduction unitis disposed between the PCB unitand the antenna unitso that the PCB unitand the antenna unitare electrically connected to each other. The conduction unitmay be in contact with the antenna unitformed on the upper housingand simultaneously may be in contact with the PCB unit. The conduction unitis simultaneously in contact with the antenna unitand the PCB unitso that electrical signals of the PCB unitcan be transmitted to the antenna unit. The conduction unitmay be various components formed of a conductor, and for example, a C-clip, conductive rubber, etc.

500 510 520 530 The conduction unitmay include an antenna contact portion, a PCB contact portion, and a conduction connection portion.

510 500 400 510 300 400 400 400 The antenna contact portionis a portion of the conduction unitthat contacts the antenna unit. The antenna contact portionmay allow the PCB unitand the antenna unitto be electrically connected to each other through only contact with part of the patterns of the antenna unitwithout being in contact with the whole patterns of the antenna unit.

520 510 500 300 520 510 100 300 510 520 510 520 5 7 FIGS.through The PCB contact portionis disposed parallel to the antenna contact portionand is a portion of the conduction unitthat is in contact with the PCB unit. The PCB contact portionis disposed parallel to the antenna contact portion, and a distance between the upper housingand the PCB unitis minimized so that the size of the analyte monitoring device can be miniaturized. As shown in, the antenna contact portionand the PCB contact portionmay have hexahedron shapes, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the antenna contact portionand the PCB contact portionmay be implemented in various shapes.

530 510 520 530 530 5 7 FIGS.through The conduction connection portionis a portion that connects the antenna contact portionto the PCB contact portion. Referring to, the conduction connection portionmay include a curved shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the conduction connection portionmay be implemented in various shapes.

8 FIG. is a bottom perspective view illustrating a fixing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

8 FIG. 110 100 600 200 110 Referring to, a first openingmay be formed in the upper housing, and a fixing unitcoupled to the sensor unitmay be installed at the first opening.

600 200 200 610 620 The fixing unitmay be coupled to the sensor unit, may prevent the sensor unitfrom being moved, and may include a holderand a packing holder.

610 110 100 200 200 610 620 620 610 The holdermay cover part of the first openingformed in the upper housing, may be coupled to the sensor unitand may prevent the sensor unitfrom being moved. The diameter of the holdermay be formed greater than the packing holderto be described later, and the packing holderto be described later may be coupled to the holder.

610 611 612 The holdermay include a holder sensor fixing portionand a holder insertion portion.

611 611 200 200 611 200 611 200 200 The holder sensor fixing portionmay be formed by being recessed on one side of the outer surface of the holder sensor fixing portionwith a width corresponding to the width of the sensor unit, and the sensor unitmay be inserted into the holder sensor fixing portionto fix the sensor unit. The holder sensor fixing portionfixes the sensor unitinserted into the body so that the sensor unitcannot be moved at normal time and thus the user can use the analyte monitoring device safely.

612 622 620 The holder insertion portionmay be formed in a groove shape in a structure corresponding to a packing holder protrusionto be described later, and the packing holderto be described later may be fixed.

620 110 610 620 620 620 620 620 620 The packing holdermay cover the other part of the first openingand may be coupled to the holder. The packing holdermay be pressed when a needle embedded in the applicator passes through the packing holder. The packing holdermay be manufactured of a rubber material. When the packing holderis manufactured of rubber, a frictional force with the needle embedded in the applicator may be increased so that the needle can be prevented from being rotated while the analyte monitoring device is attached to the body. In addition, when the packing holderis manufactured of rubber, a hole filling function may be performed by restoring a hole formed by the needle embedded in the applicator by elasticity of rubber. However, the packing holderis not limited to the rubber material but may be implemented with various materials that may perform a rotation prevention function or a hole filling function.

620 621 622 621 200 200 622 620 620 610 The packing holdermay include a packing holder sensor fixing portionand a packing holder protrusion. The packing holder sensor fixing portionmay be formed with a width corresponding to the width of the sensor unitand may fix the sensor unit. The packing holder protrusionmay have a protrusion structure formed at one end of the packing holderso that the packing holdercan be coupled to the holder.

620 610 610 620 610 620 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the packing holderis coupled to the holder, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the holderand the packing holdermay also be integrally manufactured. In this case, the holderand the packing holdermay be manufactured using a double injection method.

1 3 FIGS.to 700 Referring to, the analyte monitoring device may further include a lower housing.

700 100 710 110 200 200 710 700 220 700 700 The lower housingmay be coupled to the upper housingand may include at least one second openingwhich is aligned with the first openingand through which part of the sensor passes. When the sensor unitis mounted, the sensor unitmay pass through the second openingformed in the lower housingso that at least the sensor insertion portioncan be exposed to the outside. The lower housingmay be a surface that contacts the body and may be manufactured of a material that is deformed to fit the body, and the outer surface of the lower housingis implemented as an adhesive surface with an adhesive applied so that the analyte monitoring device can be attached to the surface of the body.

3 5 FIGS.and 800 810 Referring to, the analyte monitoring device may further include a batteryand a battery connection member.

800 300 3 5 FIGS.and The batterymay be coupled to the PCB unitand may supply power to the analyte monitoring device. A circular battery is shown in, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a battery may be implemented in various shapes.

810 800 300 800 300 810 3 FIG. The battery connection membermay be coupled to the batteryand the PCB unitand may supply power of the batteryto the PCB unit. The battery connection memberis not limited to the shape shown inbut may be implemented in various shapes.

100 : upper housing 110 : first opening 200 : sensor unit 210 : sensor body portion 220 : sensor insertion portion 300 : PCB unit 310 : PCB pad 400 : antenna unit 500 : conduction unit 510 : antenna contact portion 520 : PCB contact portion 530 : conduction connection portion 600 : fixing unit 610 : holder 611 : holder sensor fixing portion 612 : holder insertion portion 621 : packing holder sensor fixing portion 622 : packing holder protrusion 620 : packing holder 700 : lower housing 710 : second opening 800 : battery 810 : battery connection member